Credit-accounting appliance.



Cr. JACOBS.

CREDIT ACCOUNTING APPLIANCE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNI; 14, 1912.

1,130,823, Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

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G; JACOBS.

CREDIT AGUOUNTING APPLIANGB,

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CREDIT AGGOUNTING APPLIANGE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 14, 1912.

Patented Mal". 9, 1915.

H NORRIS PETERS Co., PHDTO-LITHO WASHNG roN, D, c.

G. JACOBS. CREDIT ACCOUNTING lAPPLIAIIGL.

API LIOATION FILED JUNE 14., 1912.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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THE NURRIS PETERS CO., PHUTO-LITHO.. wASHlNGroN, DA f f puin GEORGE JACOBS, OF CLEVELAND, OI-IIO.

CREDIT-ACCOUNTING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915;

Application filed .Tune 14, 1912. Serial No. 703.714.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE JAcos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of lCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Credit-Accounting Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to filing devices of the type known to the trade as account registers, wherein the accounts inthe form of slips are secured to the faces of a series of leaves or boards and in which said leaves or boards are stacked or ystored away so as to be readily accessible when desired, readily' removable to a place of safe-keeping upon occasion, and easily returned to storage position when not in immediate use.

In devices of this kind, each leaf or board is provided with a suitable number of slipholding devices or clips, each holding device or clip being numbered and the register being provided with an index whereon the names of the debtors or other parties represented by the numbers on the leaves and clips will appear.

A great many expedients for the stacking or other storing of the leaves or boards have been proposed, but many ofthe expedients heretofore adopted have been deficient in certain particulars such as rin necessitating the manipulation of the leaves orboards separately, the independent removal and replacement of the leaves or boards when it is desired to store them for safekeeping, and the necessity of working in different planes when consulting the account slip thereon. In the case of a register containing only a small number of leaves or boards, the above noted objections are not of great importance because of the fact that the separate handling of two or three boards is'not objectionable, and with a small number of boards the working plane will not vary sufficiently to cause any particular discomfort or eyestrain. In the case of an account register comprising a large numbery of boards, these considerations become of great importance.

It is the general object of this invention, therefore, to provide an account register of this type wherein the planes occupied by all of the leaves will be substantially fixed or permanent during the reading, filing, or inspecting operations, enabling the `Slips or accounts to be inspected at a place convenient of access and capable of efficient illumination. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having means for securing account slips to both the front and back sides of the boards or leaves and in which the opposite sides of these leaves shall beheld in substantially the same plane so as to facilitate access thereto.

' A further object ofthe invention is to provide a. device of this kind with an index so constructed,l located, and supported as to be convenient of reference and renewal. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of great simplicity, reliability and cheapness whereby the foregoing results may be accomplished, while further objects and advantages of the invention will be made clear in the course of the following description and claims. 4

Generally speaking, this invention comycnf prises a modification of the invention de-A scribed and'claimed in my copending application, filed June 7, 1912, Ser., No. 702,321 and will be found to contain many points in common therewith. l In the drawings accompanying and forming part, of thisfapplication I have illustrated one embodiment of this invention, although it will be understood that these drawings are intended to be Vexplanatory ymerely of one form of my device, and that I do not restrict ymyself to the particular features of construction, proportion, or arrangement showfn therein.

In these drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of the essential parts of my improved account register, showing the leaves or boards in one position; Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the device showing anotherl position which the leaves or boards Y may assume land `illustrating the manner of maintaining the reading plane at substantially a iixed point; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the right hand end of the device showing the leaves in the position illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a central vertical cross sectional view taken transversely across the supporting means at one side of the register, showing the lazy tongs, springs, and bottom plate; Fig. 5I is a perspective view of one of the corner pieces whereby the lazy tongs are secured to the kbottom plate; F ig. 6 is a detail cross sectional view Sie tarea-apen the lira e-eef Fig'. a sawing the method of securing one arm of 'thelazyY tongs to one of said corner pieces; Fig. l is a plan view of the index leaf, a portion of the'transparent cover plate being' broken away; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the acceuntle'aves" showingpthe retaining.' clips Fig. 9 is'a transverse, erom-sectional view takenfthrough the index' plate showing an' index card on one side of the same and accountclipson the other1` side thereof;` and Figs. 10, 11, 12` and 13 are detail crosssectional views corresponding to the similarly niimberedlines of Fig. 7 Y and illustiatiii'g, the*q preferred method of constructing he index leaf and' securing the index nai-J there@ t ifescriloingl the parts by reference char;- acters, 1 denotes a base plate or support and 2 denotes generallyy theV account leaves ofthe registensaid base member being provided at separated points with yielding sup- I porting devices, and said leaves `being hinged together at their bottoms f in( such A manner as to permit them to befolded over onto oneor the other of said supporting de-A vices, and said supporting devices being'so constructed asv to maintain the upper sur faces of the uppermost leafthereon substan tially horizontal and substantially7 at a IiXed distancev above a the fbase, member. Although it will beapparent that various eX- pedients may` be employed for effecting this general resul-t, the preferred expedient con- Y sists in 4forming each of these supporting del vices with lazy tongs in the manner now to y be described. l a A At quadrangular points of the base member lare secured brackets 3 t0 the upper end of ef'ach of whfichvar'e pivotedthe lowermost levers 4 4lofa pair of lazyltongs. To-the outer' ends of the levers .other levers 5 5'Y lare pivoted, theV levers 5 5 being of substantially twicev the length l,of the levers 4 4 and parallel thereto. To the free ends of the levers- 5 5 are pivoted other levers 6 6v whose length is substantiallyr the same as that of the levers 5 5, and as many sets of such levers may vbe employed as is required to afo'rd Vthe desired amount of movement. In thisl embodiment the'y levers 6 6 are the last of the' series. At their points of intersection the levers 5 5 and 6 6 are pivoted upon the reduced ends 7 7 of horizontal rods 8 8, said rods eXtending'from the intersection of one set of lazy tongs to the., like points of the similar set at the opposite side of. the

. base member, as shown in Fig. 3; The middiev portions of these rods are preferably squarey in lcross section, as illustratedin Figs. 3 and 4, for the reception 'of leaf-'springs 9 9 whichjtend tomaintai-n the lazy-tongs in extendedV position.` vThe fmidpoints of these springs may be secured to certain of the rods as shownlinFig's.-3 and 4 and their end portions may rest against the sides 0f other rods, the attachment of the springs to the rods preferably beingeffected by means of blocks 10 :10 in orderv to prevent the weakening thereof.

Y To the upper levers of each pair of lazy- .tongs issecured a-v supporting plate 12 preferably of metal and having a peripheral 11p-turned flange 13. The attachment of the lazy-tongs to these plates is conveniently effected by means of corner pieces 141 riveted or votherwise Vsecured thereto and provided with slottedV ears 15, receiving studs 16 carried'by the free ends of the levers. 6. This construction secures each `of the plates at ment is'notmandatory, as'in some instances the spring 18 would be secured to the bar 8, depending upon the number ofsuch bars in the lazy-tongs. The plate lwis preferably cut away or notched on onelorjmore points as indicatedfat 1.19 to permit the leavesthereon to begrasped more easily. y While it will be apparent that any'desired type of leaf may be employed and that many of the advantages of my improved construction yet secured,l I prefer to yemploy leaves constructed Vand *y illustrated andldescribedV in my c opending leave-s comprising a flat metallic plate or web providcd at its edges with a suitable number of oppositelyprojecting discontinuous flanges 26 26. These flanges are then embraced by a rim 27 whose lateral edges are foldedinwardly as at 28 so as to embrace the inner faces of these flanges and maintain Vthe rimin position on the leaf. These rims formed substantially as yapplication above referred to, each of said l The inner edges of the leaves may also be provided with hinge knuckles 35 for the reception of suitablepintlespiwhereby the leaves lare joined together. f The size ofthe leaves is such as"v to yCause them to be receivedk snugly between the ianges 13 of the bottom plates no other securing means being necessary.

The middle plate of the series is preferably formed as an index plate and to this end it is provided with means for the reception of an index card and with a plate of transparent material by which this card can be covered. For supporting this card I preferably form the plate 25 with spaced outwardly bent integral ears 38 struck up from the body of the metal, certain of these ears having their endsfbent inwardly parallel to the plate as shown in Fig. 11` and', other ears being bent outwardly at right angles to the plate asshown in Fig. l0. The index sheet preferably consists of ametal plate 39 having its edge portion resting upon the inturned ears and received between the outturned ears, being thereby held a short distance away from the face of the leaf and prevented from shifting thereover.' The index cards are then pasted to the s ides of the plate 39 as shown at 40, sufficient space being left between the plates 25 and 39 to permit a considerable number of index cards to be superposed lupon the Lplate without crowding or bulging. A frame '41, preferably of right-angle metal as shown, may be hinged to one side of the leaf as at 42 and provided with a transparent sheet 43 of glass or celluloid. The edge flanges of the angle members preferably fall immediatelywithin the rim 27 as shown in Figs. 10 and l1 and the transparent plate 'may be secured in place by a metal strip 44 riveted in place. In the present embodiment, the heads of these rivets are arranged' to engage lthe edges of the plate 39 to clamp the same against the inturned ears 38, and the frame 4l may be secured in closed position by suit-.

able means such as the spring latch 45. The account-receiving leaves areprovided with spring clips 48 of the usual or any desired type. In the present embodimenty the rearward side of the index leaf isillustrated as provided with such clips, although it is obvious that both sides of this leaf may be used for index purposes if desired, or that a number of the separate leaves might be employed either partially or wholly forindex purposes, as required by the size of the register or the fancy of the owner.

rIhe register, as a whole, will vbe operated much like a large book, the leaves being turned from side to side as occasion may demand. The leaves being connected together at their inner edges, the upper surfaces thereof will be maintained in substantially the saine plane irrespective of the number of leaves upon one orthe other sideof the device, while the upper surfaces of these leaves will be always at substantially the same angle to the horizontal because of the mode of connecting the lazy-tongs to the bottom Y plates.

This plane may be made nearly horizontal if desired, although in practice, it isprobably better to incline them slightly toward each other as shown in Figs. l and 2. In case a plurality of leaves be turned over at one time the two supports will rock sidewise around the brackets 3 without cramping or binding, while if it be desired to remove these leaves for storage or safekeeping it is merely necessary to transfer them all to one of the supporting members and then remove them bodily therefrom, the notch 19 permitting ready grasping thereof.

The size of the device is entirely a matter of convenience. The base member 1 may, if desired, rest upon the ioor and carry lazy-tongs of a length sufcient to bring the leaves to such a height as tov be readily referred to by an operator in standing position. Likewise it may be placed upon a desk or table and provided with a lazy-tongs of a correspondingly less height. Likewise the device may, if desired, be more or less completely inclosed in a casing of more or less artistic form without departing from the scope of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. Furthermore, as will be obvious, it is not necessary to employ rigid leaves, but flexible leaves, such as those of a book are conceived to fall within the terms of certain of the claims appended hereto, whereby the use of my peculiar supporting devices as a rest for holding an atlas,en- Cyclopedia, dictionary, or other large book is conceived to fall within the scope of my invention.

-l/Vhile yI have necessarily described my invention in detail, I do not therefore propose to be limited to such details, except as the same may be positively included' in the claims hereto annexed or may be rendered necessary by the prior state of the art.

A Having thus described my invention, what I claim is y 1. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a plurality of leaves hinged together at their inner edges, of a rigid supporting plate at each side of the peint of hinging of said leaves and receiving the end leaves of the series respectively, means yieldingly maintaining said plates in elevated position, and means for permitting a limited movement of said plates toward and from each other while maintaining. said plates substantially horizontal at all times.

2. In a device of the character described,y the combination, with a base, of a pair of supporting devices carried thereby, rigid.

plates secured to the upper portions of said supporting devices, and lying adjacent to each other, said supporting devices comprising vertically yielding portions whereby said vplates are supported inelevated position, means for maintaining substantially a fixed angular relation between said plates and said supporting devices, means for per'-l mitting a limited movement of said plates toward and from each other while maintaining said plates substantially horizontal at all times, a plurality of leaves hingedly connected together at their inner edges, part of said leaves being supported upon each of saidl plates, and the point of connection of said leaves being between said plates. Y

3. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a base, of a pair of supporting devices separately pivoted thereto and capable of swinging toward and from each other, rigid plates secured to the upper portions of saidy supporting devices, said supporting devices comprising flexible portions whereby said plates are supported yieldingly in elevated position, means for maintaining substantially a liXed. angular relation between said :plates and said supporting devices, and a'plurality of leaves hingedly connected together at their inner edges, part of said leaves being supported upon each of said plates and the point of connection of said leaves being between said plates.. c Y

4. In a device Of the character described, the combination, with a base, of lazy-tongs pivotally connected to separate longitudinal separate -portions thereof and capable of swinging to- Ward and yfrom each other, rigid plates secured to the upper ends of said lazy-tongs, and means yieldingly mantaining said lazytongs ineXtended position, the inner edges of said plates lying adjacent to eachother in separate vertical planes and the axes of said pivotal connections being substantially parallel to said planes, whereby each of said plates may receive the outermost' of a series of pivotally connected leaves and maintain the uppermost of said leaves in substantially a Xed plane, while permitting the transfer of leaves from one plate to the other.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination, witha base, of a pair of lazy-tongs. connected to opposite points of longitudinal portions thereof, means connecting together similar points of each pair of` lazy-tongs whereby they are caused to move together, a rigid yplate secured to theupper ends of each'pair of lazytongs, means yieldingly maintaining said lazytongs in Vextended position, the inner edges of said plates lying adjacent to each other in separate vertical planes, whereby eachV of said plates may receive the outermost of a series of pivotally connected leaves and maintain the uppermost of said leaves in substantially a liXed plane, and means permitting a limited movement of vsaid plates toward and from each other whereby leaves may be transferred from one platev to the other.

6. The combination, with a base member, of a pair of rigid supporting plates, eXtensible' supporting means secured to the lower sides of said plates and making fixed angles with said plates, the lower ends of said supporting members being pivoted to' said base member upon 'substantially parallel axes in a manner that will permit of a slight movement toward and from each other, resilientV means included in said supporting members whereby saidY plates are' yieldingly held inV .saidl plates.

7. The combination', withy a base member, of a pair offliaty supporting plates, yieldingly supported independently of each other above adjacent portions of said base member, means maintaining said plates at Vsub'- stantially iiXed angles relative to the horizontalplane, while permitting a restricted movement thereof toward and from each other, each ofy said plates being adapted for the reception-of the end leaf of a series of hinged leaves, the hinges of which fall between the adjacent edges of said plates, and

means carried by saidplates for fixing the position of said leaves thereon'.V

, 8.r In a device of the character described, the combination, with ap'air of rigid sup,-

porting plates having slotted ears at simi- Y whereby they latter Vare normally held in eX- tended position, and a series of leaves, theV outermost ofv which is appliedA to each of lar, transversely opposite portions thereof, j

said plates, said leaves being hinged togeth'er in' the 'space between'v edges of said plates. i

9. In a device of the character described, theV combination, with a pair of rectangular, rigid, supportingplates, of supporting members secured to the-'lower surfaces of said plates substantiallynormal to the plane thereof, a base member, pivotal connections between said base member and the lower end ci' each of said supporting members whereby said supporting members are permitted to swing toward and from each other, the axes of the pivots being substantially vparallel and spaced apart a distance not less than the adjacent the widthV of one of said plates, each ofsaid supporting membersV comprising yielding means tending totholdritsplate in elevated position,rand akplurality of leaves hingedly connected together at their inner edges, part of said leaves being supported upon each of said plates, and the point of connection of saidleavves being between said plates.

' l0; v In a device of themcharacter described,

isc

Y the onibination, with a base member, f a

plates in elevated position, and a plurality of leaves hinged together at their inner edges, part of said leaves being` supported 15 on each of said plates and said hinges being received in the space between said plates.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses;

GEORGE JACOBS.-

Witnesses:

ISABELLE G. LATHROP, W. H. MOORE;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cent's each, by' addressing the y Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

